KoreaScouter

Searchers are aware that lost kids may avoid them due to parental cautions about strangers, embarrassment, fear (particularly if search dogs are involved), fatigue, what have you. There are protocols for this, to include calling the lost child's name continuously, so he knows they're looking for him; distinctive clothing or identification to make all of them, even the volunteers, appear "official"; markers or tags that identify areas already searched, AND contain "get found" instructions for the lost kid if he sees the marker; making sure that a significant percentage of the searchers are wom

Procrastinators are a challenge, but they're easier to deal with than somebody who commits to something, then doesn't deliver. The former are an annoyance, and easy to deal with. The latter can torpedo an event. I've been burned by them in every unit I've been in, and people like that don't get a second chance with me. I've had them volunteer for things later on, and I always tell them I don't need their help. I've never understood people who agree to do something because they think it's what you want to hear, with no intention of following through on it. I've got a thick skin, if yo

So, there isn't a single registered leader from the Crew going on the outing? Excuse me, is there a unit commish in the house? KS

I too have a Sony, a DCS-75 3.2 megapixel -- got it several years ago, and am really satisfied with picture quality, video capability, etc. At the highest resolution and on optical zoom, the 3.2 looks great up to an 8X10 print. If you zoom a lot farther, or need larger prints, get a higher-res camera. I don't like the little jog/shuttle five position multi-button on the back though -- common on Sony cameras and just too small for my big stupid thumb to operate smoothly. I use 64MB sticks, and get 40 pictures on a stick at the highest resolution. So, you should get 80 on a 128, 160 on

CNY: After reading your initial post, I have to tell you that the handsome gentleman off to the side who appears to be kneeling in prayer is actually me, and what I'm actually doing is lacing up my New Balances, so I can....RUN!!! As fast as I can, with Eamonn, and hopefully you, too, and others who want to join a Boy Scout Troop... KS

As long as they're willing to carry in, unpack, repack, and carry back out, I don't have an issue with chairs. Those compact lightweight outfits they have now are quite comfortable, and easily toted by even first year Scouts. You know, you'll always run into the doctrinal purist who doesn't think we should use anything B-P didn't have. I guess we'd better leave the LED flashlights at home... KS

Brian: Current uniform guidance tells us to wear either the MB sash or the OA sash, over the right shoulder. Not both together, and neither should be hung from the belt. Check with your local lodge on registration after an inactive period. I'm sure it's as simple as madkins007 suggests... KS

We've got right at 70% going, if you include staffers. Our two big factors for those Scouts not going are year-round school schedules and off-island vacation travel. I've got a couple in summer school, and a couple working, too. Money's not a factor; our camp's only $145 per, and the committee apportions most of our fund-raiser proceeds to the lads' Scout accounts -- most of our Scouts pay most or all of their camp fee from their accounts. KS

SR540Beaver; My comments in my last post were not directed at you; if you check the post times, we were both writing ours at the same time -- you clicked "submit" just a few seconds before I did. Rather, it was a general comment intended for those leaders who complain about summer camp programs, but who also do nothing except show up and expect to be catered to all week -- and that's knowing full well how much advance work it takes to get a council campsite ready for summer camp and to deliver a program while camp is underway. I've found there's a direct relationship between the wil

If it's a scoutcraft skill through First Class, most of that instruction is done by the Green Bars & Instructors in our unit, and they sign off the requirement at the time it's taught/demonstrated, whether at a meeting or outing. If a Scout comes to me to sign off something someone else taught him, I need the Green Bar who did the instruction to verify it for me anyway, so our lads are conditioned to get the signoffs from whoever taught them. That's a bit of a transition for newly-crossed-over Scouts, who are accustomed to adults doing everything, but they catch on very quickly. Tha

cmarrero: The first line of your opening post answers your question...it's a "pack trip". That makes it a Scout outing, and the tour permit is required, with the vehicle information. I see tour permits in the same category as money-earning applications -- they're a tool to help you plan your event. Councils aren't trying to keep units at home, or in the poor house by throwing up insurmountable barriers to travel or fund-raising. The forms aren't hard to fill out, TroopMaster or PackMaster help a lot if you have the vehicle information entered for your families, and in every counci

Our council camp doesn't offer the citizenship badges, or communications, at summer camp. They offer the outdoor-oriented badges, and those that are difficult to do as part of the troop program (rifle, for example). By and large, they do a great job at it. It's a two-way street too. Our council staff asks on-island units to adopt a campsite at our council camp, and do maintenance and improvement work out there throughout the year -- we have, and we do. They also expect leaders to attend orientation sessions and training classes on new program features -- we have, and we're scheduled to at

Owl; BSA's very fussy about what the unit flags look like, since they're such a visible symbol of the movement. Have you considered custom-made streamers for your flag versus sewing stars on it? KS

OGE: You're a good man with the patience of Job; you stuck it out a lot longer than I could have. When I stumble into one of those threads you referenced, I get right back out as fast as I can -- you didn't have that option, and I salute you for your efforts! KS

They can be a positive thing. When I was a SM in Korea, one of the amusement parks there had a small zoo with all native animals, and interactive nature area that provided a fabulous way for our boys to learn native plants and animals (the Handbook and other BSA references are North America-centric, so we had to get creative). We always did the zoo/nature area first, then the rides, games, and whatnot. There are many potential advancement & MB tie-ins (Business monthly Troop Program Feature; Engineering, Architecture, Salesmanship MBs, and I'm just shooting from the hip -- there's c

Root Beer floats? That's it, I'm moving! KS

I'd use the Outdoor Essentials and Personal Overnight Gear (P224 in the Handbook) as a place to start. Take the optional items too, perhaps minus the musical instrument. Anything else depends on preference, what's at the Tradin' Post, and camp/unit policy. We hold a parents' meeting, and while I'm with them, the SPL is with the Scouts, doing the same thing. If you PM me, I'll send you a copy of the powerpoint slides we use. Regarding clothing, hygiene, and how to pack, I require every Scout to take a shower, every night, right before lights out -- and we check 'em when they get ba

I think every Scout who makes it to Star thinks about earning Eagle, since it's not as distant a goal as it was when he was working on his joining requirements. Part of that is thinking about possible projects, especially when they're putting in hours on their buddies' Eagle projects. I don't see anything wrong with it. On the contrary, show me two Scouts, one who's thinking about it as a Star, and one who isn't, I'll bet on attending an Eagle COH for the first one someday... KS

While I agree that most boys will internalize the values by osmosis, either sooner or later, some never will. I prefer to spend my time and energy on the former, rather than the latter. I get them for an hour and a half a week -- as good as we are, it's tough to overcome the other 166 hours. Besides, by the time we get them, their personalities and demeanors are largely formed. I'm not Father Flanagan, and this ain't Boys' Town. We've done parents' conferences for infractions a lot less serious than than what uz2bnowl described in his opening post... KS

I recommend the Silva starter, clear base plate compass sold in the Scout shop, for most Scouting uses. Sturdy, easy to pack, easy to teach, easy to use. I also recommend teaching new Scouts to figure the declination once, mark their maps accordingly, then they don't have to recalculate every time they take a bearing. Now, a little joke and a humorous story. Joke: Why did the Army locate the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia? Because the declination angle is zero degrees in Columbus, Georgia... Humorous story. Many years ago, KS is at the Air Force's school for n

Although our adults can certainly sign off advancements (and I presume we're talking mainly through First Class here), that's something I expect my Green Bars to do. For one thing, a Scout will probably wait less time for his PL than he will for me. Also, knowing that he may be expected to teach and sign off requirements keeps the Green Bars in their handbooks and their skills sharper. The only limitations are that only the SM or his designated ASM signs off Scout Spirit, and that's done at the SM conference. And, that a Green Bar can sign off advancement only for those Scouts lower in ran

ScoutNut; All the councils we've been with have had a substantial military population; more transfers than those you've been associated with, probably. I understand the proceeds go to the Troop. My point is that so far at least (again, three councils and 7 Troops), there has been no linkage between program planning and money earning. Individual councils may not care whether Troops carry forward or not, but as you know, GSUSA uses a less centralized oversight model; service units and the Troop leaders have much more autonomy than BSA units within a District and Council. Moreove

I understand that from an accounting standpoint, it's easy enough to do. This is a human factor problem, in my experience. To carry the funds forward means that somebody next year, who didn't earn the money in the Troop this year, will benefit from someone else's fund raising efforts when they move up a level in the program. I've tried to explain till blue-faced, that if all Troops in a service unit carried forward, it would be a wash. I might as well be speaking Sanskrit, because while it makes sense, nobody wants to be the first to have to do it. Speaking of building balances, if GS

I've got one of each in the house, and the one difference that I just don't understand is how GS Troops handle their money. In three different GS Councils, my daughter's Troops have had to zero out their balance at the end of each May. They spend the money raised mostly by cookie sales from people who thought it was going for program support, for trinkets and presents for the girls, just to get rid of the $$. Then, in the fall, they're broke again until the cookie money comes in months later. Nobody has ever been able to tell me why they don't just carry it forward and use it for what it w

Q1: A father/son 1-on-1 can look inappropriate to an observer who doesn't know the family...but it's sometimes inevitable. For example, after I drop everyone else off, guess who's left alone with me? My son...can't help it, unless I call him a taxi from the last drop-off. Q2#3: I think there should always be adult and youth facilities wherever possible. Barring that, there should be a flip-over sign (youth/adult) at the entrance. When that's just not possible, like at non-council property, I always go to a stall for privacy reasons -- if the youth isn't going to protect his privacy, I